Method for preparing granular polycrystalline silicon using fluidized bed reactor

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method for mass preparation of granular polycrystalline silicon in a fluidized bed reactor, comprising (a) a reactor tube, (b) a reactor shell encompassing the reactor tube, (c) an inner zone formed within the reactor tube, where a silicon particle bed is formed and silicon deposition occurs, and an outer zone formed in between the reactor shell and the reactor tube, which is maintained under an inert gas atmosphere, and (d) a controlling means to keep the pressure difference between the inner zone and the outer zone being maintained within the range of 0 to 1 bar, thereby capable of maintaining physical stability of the reactor tube and efficiently preparing granular polycrystalline silicon even at a relatively high reaction pressure.

This application is a 371 of PCT/KR2007/000781 filed on Feb. 14, 2007, published on Aug. 23, 2007 under publication number WO 2007/094607 A1 which claims priority benefits from South Korean Patent Application Number 10-2006-0013973 filed Feb. 14, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for mass production of granular polycrystalline silicon using a fluidized bed reactor that can be maintained stable during a long-term operation even at a relatively high pressure.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Generally, high-purity polycrystalline silicon is used as a basic material for manufacturing semiconductor devices or solar cells. The polycrystalline silicon is prepared by thermal decomposition and/or hydrogen reduction of a highly-purified silicon atom-containing reaction gas, thereby allowing continuous deposition of silicon on silicon particles.

For mass production of polycrystalline silicon, a bell-jar type reactor has been mainly used, which provides a rod-type polycrystalline silicon product with a diameter of about 50-300 mm. However, the bell-jar type reactor, which consists fundamentally of the electric resistance heating system, cannot be operated continuously due to inevitable limit in extending the maximum rod diameter achievable. This reactor is also known to have serious problems of low deposition efficiency and high electrical energy consumption because of limited silicon surfaces and high heat loss.

Alternatively, a fluidized bed reactor has recently been developed to prepare granular polycrystalline silicon with a size of 0.5-3 mm. According to this method, a fluidized bed of silicon particles is formed by the upward flow of a gas and the size of the silicon particles increases as the silicon atoms deposit on the particles from the silicon atom-containing reaction gas supplied to the heated fluidized bed.

As in the conventional bell-jar type reactor, the fluidized bed reactor also uses a silane compound of Si—H—Cl system such as monosilane (SiH₄), dichlorosilane (SiH₂Cl₂), trichlorosilane (SiHCl₃), silicon tetrachloride (SiCl₄) or its mixture as the silicon atom-containing reaction gas, which usually further comprises hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, helium, etc.

For the silicon deposition, the reaction temperature (i.e., temperature of the silicon particles) should be maintained high. The temperature should be about 600-850° C. for monosilane, and about 900-1,100° C. for trichlorosilane, which is most widely used.

The process of silicon deposition, which is caused by thermal decomposition and/or hydrogen reduction of a silicon atom-containing reaction gas, includes various elementary reactions, and there are complex routes where silicon atoms grow into granular particles depending on the reaction gas. However, regardless of the kind of the elementary reaction and the reaction gas, the operation of the fluidized bed reactor is able to provide a granular polycrystalline silicon product.

Here, smaller silicon particles, i.e., seed crystals become bigger in size due to continuous silicon deposition or the agglomeration of silicon particles, thereby losing fluidity and moving downwards eventually. The seed crystals may be prepared or generated in situ in the fluidized bed itself, or supplied into the reactor continuously, periodically or intermittently. Thus prepared bigger particles, i.e., polycrystalline silicon product, may be discharged from the lower part of the reactor continuously, periodically or intermittently.

Due to the relatively high surface area of the silicon particles, the fluidized bed reactor system provides a higher reaction yield than that by the bell-jar type reactor system. Further, the granular product may be directly used without a further processing for the following-up processes such as single crystal growth, crystal block or film production, surface treatment and modification, preparation of chemical materials for reaction or separation, or molding or pulverization of silicon particles. Although these follow-up processes have been operated in a batchwise manner, the manufacture of the granular polycrystalline silicon allows the processes to be performed in a semi-continuous or continuous manner.

The increase in the productivity of the fluidized bed reactor is required for low-cost manufacture of granular polycrystalline silicon. For this purpose, it is most effective to increase the silicon deposition rate with low specific energy consumption, which can be obtained by continuous operation of the fluidized bed reactor under high pressures. For continuous operation of the process with the fluidized bed reactor, it is essential to secure the physical stability of the reactor components.

Unlike conventional fluidized bed reactors for preparing common chemical products, serious limitations are encountered in material selection of the components of the fluidized bed reactor for preparing polycrystalline silicon. Especially, considering the desired high purity of the polycrystalline silicon, the material selection of the fluidized bed wall is important. The reactor wall is weak in physical stability because it is always in contact with silicon particles fluidizing at high temperatures, and is subject to the irregular vibration and severe shear stress caused by the fluidized bed of the particles. However, it is very difficult to select an appropriate material among the high-purity non-metallic inorganic materials that are capable of enduring a relatively high pressure condition, because a metallic material is not appropriate because of high reaction temperature and chemical properties of the reaction gas. For this reason, the fluidized bed reactor for manufacture of polycrystalline silicon inevitably has a complex structure. It is therefore common that a reactor tube made of quartz is positioned in an electrical resistance heater for heating the silicon particles, and both the reactor tube and the heater are surrounded by a metallic shell. It is preferred to fill an insulating material in between the heater and the reactor shell or outside the reactor shell to reduce heat loss.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,908 discloses a reactor system where an electric resistance heater encloses a reactor tube made of quartz, both of which are protected by a jacket-shaped stainless-steel shell and an insulating material is installed outside the shell.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,934 discloses a fluidized bed reactor for manufacture of polycrystalline silicon, comprising a reactor vessel, i.e., the reactor tube defining a fluidized bed; a shroud, i.e., a protection tube surrounding the reactor tube; a heater installed outside the shroud; and an outer containment surrounding the heater and an insulating material. This patent emphasizes that the protection tube made of quartz be installed in between the reactor tube and the heater to prevent the crack of the reactor tube and the contamination of its inner space.

Meanwhile, the fluidized bed reactor for manufacture of polycrystalline silicon may have a different structure depending on the heating method.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,477 discloses a method of heating silicon particles with microwave penetrating through the quartz reactor tube instead of applying a conventional heater outside the tube. However, this patent still has a problem of a complex structure of the reactor and fails to disclose how to increase the reaction pressure inside the quartz reactor tube.

To solve the above problem, U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,412 discloses a simple-structured fluidized bed reactor for manufacture of polycrystalline silicon, wherein a cylindrical reactor tube is hold vertically by a metallic reactor shell. However, this patent still has problems that the inner pressure cannot be increased beyond atmospheric pressure and the microwave supplying means should be combined with the reactor shell, thus failing to provide ways to overcome the mechanical weakness of the reactor tube that is anticipated at high-pressure reaction.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for preparing polycrystalline silicon by stable, long-term operation of a fluidized bed reactor without being restrained by increase in reaction pressure.

In this respect, the present inventors completed the present invention based on the experimental result that, if the pressure difference between both sides of the reactor tube is maintained within a predetermined range, the fluidized bed reactor might be operated with long-term stability even at high pressures, satisfying various conditions required for preparing polycrystalline silicon based on the fluidized bed process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing an improved of the fluidized bed reactor which can be applied to high-pressure operations although being composed of the material acceptable to atmospheric-pressure operation for preparing polycrystalline silicon.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing polycrystalline silicon, which allows easy installation of a heating means for heating silicon particles to a high reaction temperature required for preparing polycrystalline silicon.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing polycrystalline silicon, which may secure a long-term stability while enduring a physical stress exerted on the reactor tube by the fluidization of silicon particles.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing polycrystalline silicon, wherein the stability of a reactor may be secured despite the exposure of the reactor tube to continuously fluidizing silicon particles at high temperature and pressure.

The present invention also aims to provide a method which can be conveniently applied to preparing high-purity polycrystalline silicon granules while minimizing impurity contamination.

MODE FOR INVENTION

For accomplishing the aforementioned purposes, the present invention provides a method for preparing polycrystalline silicon using a fluidized bed reactor, comprising the following procedures: (a) employing a fluidized bed reactor wherein a reactor tube is vertically placed within a reactor shell so as to be encompassed by the reactor shell, whereby dividing an inner space of the reactor shell into an inner zone formed within the reactor tube and an outer zone formed in between the reactor shell and the reactor tube, wherein a silicon particle bed is formed and silicon deposition occurs in the inner zone while a silicon particle bed is not formed and silicon deposition does not occur in the outer zone; (b) directly or indirectly measuring and/or controlling an inner zone pressure using an inner pressure controlling means, directly or indirectly measuring and/or controlling an outer zone pressure using an outer pressure controlling means, and maintaining the difference between the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure within 1 bar using a pressure-difference controlling means; (c) introducing a fluidizing gas into the silicon particle bed using a fluidizing gas inlet means; (d) introducing a silicon atom-containing reaction gas into the silicon particle bed using a reaction gas inlet means; (e) introducing an inert gas into the outer zone, whereby maintaining a substantially inert gas atmosphere in the outer zone; (f) heating the silicon particle bed using a heating means installed in the inner zone and/or the outer zone; (g) discharging polycrystalline silicon particles prepared within the inner zone to the outside of the fluidized bed reactor; (h) discharging an off-gas including a fluidizing gas that passes through the silicon particle bed, a non-reacted reaction gas and a byproduct gas to the outside of the fluidized bed reactor.

In a preferred embodiment, the reaction gas is a silicon atom-containing gas selected from the group consisting of monosilane, dichlorosilane, trichlorosilane, silicon tetrachloride and a mixture thereof.

Optionally, the reaction gas further comprises at least one gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, helium, hydrogen chloride and a mixture thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the fluidizing gas is a gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, helium, hydrogen chloride, silicon tetrachloride and a mixture thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the inert gas comprises at least one gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, argon and helium.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer zone pressure (Po) or the inner zone pressure (Pi) is maintained within the range of 1-15 bar.

In particular, the outer zone pressure (Po) may be controlled in the range of between maximum and minimum pressure values measurable in the inner zone.

Meanwhile, the difference between the outer zone pressure (Po) and the inner zone pressure (Pi) is maintained to satisfy the condition of 0 bar≦(Pi−Po)≦1 bar, when the inner pressure controlling means is spatially connected to the inner zone through at least one means selected from the group consisting of a fluidizing gas inlet means, a reaction gas inlet means, a silicon particle outlet means and an inner zone connecting means, which are spatially connected to the silicon particle bed.

In contrast, the difference between the outer zone pressure (Po) and the inner zone pressure (Pi) is maintained so as to satisfy the condition of 0 bar≦(Po−Pi)≦1 bar, when the inner pressure controlling means is spatially connected to the inner zone through at least one means selected from the group consisting of a gas outlet means, a silicon seed crystals inlet means and an inner zone connecting means, which are spatially connected to an upper part of the inner zone instead of the silicon particle bed.

In a preferred embodiment, a pressure controlling condition of the pressure-difference controlling means comprised in the inner pressure controlling means and/or the outer pressure controlling means is determined based on gas analysis of the gas that is present within or discharged out of the inner zone and/or the outer zone by using a gas analyzing means.

In a preferred embodiment, a packed bed of packing materials, which are not fluidized by the flow of the fluidizing gas, is formed in a lower part of the silicon particle bed with the height of the packed bed being positioned below the outlet of the reaction gas inlet means through which the reaction gas is introduced into the silicon particle bed.

Referring to the Drawings herein there is provided a detailed description of the present invention hereunder.

For preparing polycrystalline silicon according to the present invention it is required to employ a fluidized bed reactor as schematically shown in FIG. 1, wherein a reactor tube is encompassed by a reactor shell so that the space inside the reactor shell can be divided into an inner zone and an outer zone by the reactor tube. In accordance with the primary aspect of the present invention, the pressure difference between the two zones is maintained within 1 bar during the operation of the reactor.

That is, a reactor tube 2 is vertically placed within a reactor shell 1 to be encompassed by the reactor shell 1, whereby dividing an inner space of the reactor shell 1 into an inner zone 4 formed within the reactor tube 2 and an outer zone 5 formed in between the reactor shell 1 and the reactor tube 2, wherein a bed of silicon particles 3, i.e., a silicon particle bed is formed and silicon deposition occurs in the inner zone while a silicon particle bed is not formed and silicon deposition does not occur in the outer zone. Then, polycrystalline silicon is prepared according to the present invention by emptying the fluidized bed reactor and maintaining the difference between the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure within 1 bar.

Based on this method, granular polycrystalline silicon may be prepared by directly or indirectly measuring and/or controlling an inner zone pressure using an inner pressure controlling means, directly or indirectly measuring and/or controlling an outer zone pressure using an outer pressure controlling means, and maintaining the difference between the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure within 1 bar by means of controlling pressure difference.

In addition, granular polycrystalline silicon may be prepared by introducing a fluidizing gas into the silicon particle bed using a fluidizing gas inlet means; introducing a silicon atom-containing reaction gas into the silicon particle bed using a reaction gas inlet means; introducing an inert gas into the outer zone 5, whereby maintaining a substantially inert gas atmosphere in the outer zone 5; discharging polycrystalline silicon particles prepared within the inner zone 4 to the outside of the fluidized bed reactor; and discharging an off-gas including a fluidizing gas that passes through the silicon particle bed, a non-reacted reaction gas and a byproduct gas to the outside of the fluidized bed reactor.

First, hereunder is provided a detailed description about how to constitute the fluidized bed reactor to be employed for the process according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of the high-pressure fluidized bed reactor for preparing granular polycrystalline silicon, in which some of the embodiments according to the present invention are illustrated in a comprehensive way.

The structure of the fluidized bed reactor employed in to the present invention is composed of a reactor tube and a reactor shell. An inner space of the fluidized bed reactor here is separated from an outer space. The reactor shell 1 encompasses the reactor tube 2 that is substantially vertically placed within the reactor shell 1. The reactor tube 2 divides an inner space of the reactor shell 1 into an inner zone 4 formed within the reactor tube 2 and an outer zone 5 formed in between the reactor shell 1 and the reactor tube 2, wherein a silicon particle bed is formed and silicon deposition occurs in the inner zone 4 while a silicon particle bed is not formed and silicon deposition does not occur in the outer zone 5.

The reactor shell 1 is preferably made of a metallic material with reliable mechanical strength and processability such as carbon steel, stainless steel or other alloy steels. The reactor shell 1 may be divided into a plurality of components such as 1 a, 1 b, 1 c and 1 d as set forth in FIGS. 2 and 3 for convenience in fabrication, assembly and disassembly.

It is important to assemble the components of the reactor shell 1 by using gaskets or sealing materials for complete sealing. The components may have various structures of a cylindrical pipe, a flange, a tube with fittings, a plate, a cone, an ellipsoid and a double-wall jacket with a cooling medium flowing in between the walls. The inner surface of each component may be coated with a protective layer or be installed with a protective tube or wall, which may be made of a metallic material or a non-metallic material such as organic polymer, ceramic and quartz.

Some of the components of the reactor shell 1, illustrated as 1 a, 1 b, 1 c and 1 d in FIGS. 2 and 3, are preferably maintained below a certain temperature by using a cooling medium such as water, an oil, a gas and air for protecting the equipment or operators, or for preventing any thermal expansion in equipment or a safety accident. Although not set forth in FIGS. 2 and 3, the components that need to be cooled may preferably be equipped with a coolant-circulating means at their inner or outer walls. Instead of cooling, the reactor shell 1 may comprise an insulating material on the outer wall.

The reactor tube 2 may be of any shape only if it can be hold by the reactor shell 1 in such a manner that it can separate the inner space of the reactor shell 1 into an inner zone 4 and an outer zone 5. The reactor tube 2 may be of a structure of a simple straight tube as in FIG. 2, a shaped tube as in FIG. 3, a cone or an ellipsoid, and either one end or both ends of the reactor tube 2 may be formed into a flange shape. Further, the reactor tube 2 may comprise a plurality of components and some of these components may be installed in the form of a liner on the inner wall of the reactor shell 1.

The reactor tube 2 is preferred to be made of an inorganic material, which is stable at a relatively high temperature, such as quartz, silica, silicon nitride, boron nitride, silicon carbide, graphite, silicon, glassy carbon or their combination.

Meanwhile, a carbon-containing material such as silicon carbide, graphite, glassy carbon may generate carbon impurity and contaminate the polycrystalline silicon particles. Thus, if the reactor tube 2 is made of a carbon-containing material, the inner wall of the reactor tube 2 is preferred to be coated or lined with materials such as silicon, silica, quartz or silicon nitride. Then, the reactor tube 2 may be structured in a multi-layered form. Therefore, the reactor tube 2 is of one-layered or multilayered structure in the thickness direction, each layer of which is made of a different material.

Sealing means 41 a, 41 b may be used for the reactor shell 1 to safely hold the reactor tube 2. The sealing means are preferred to be stable at a temperature of above 200° C. and may be selected from organic polymer, graphite, silica, ceramic, metal or their combination. However, considering the vibration and thermal expansion during reactor operation, the sealing means 41 a, 41 b may be installed less firmly to lower the possibility of cracking of the reactor tube 2 in the course of assembly, operation and disassembly.

The partition of the inner space of the reactor shell 1 by the reactor tube 2 may prevent the silicon particles in the inner zone 4 from leaking into the outer zone 5 and differentiate the function and condition between the inner zone 4 and the outer zone 5.

In addition to the process for preparing granular polycrystalline silicon according to present invention as described above, it is required for carrying out a high-temperature silicon deposition reaction to heat silicon particles in the silicon bed by a heating means installed in the inner zone 4 and/or the outer zone 5. One or a plurality of heating means 8 a, 8 b may be installed in the inner zone 4 and/or the outer zone 5 in various manner. For example, a heating means may be installed only in the inner zone 4 or in the outer zone 5 as illustrated in FIG. 2 in a comprehensive manner. Meanwhile, a plurality of heating means may be installed in both zones, or only in the outer zone 5 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Besides, although it is not illustrated in Drawings, a plurality of heating means 8 a, 8 b may be installed only in the inner zone 4. Otherwise, a single heating means may be installed in the outer zone 5 only.

The electric energy is supplied to the heating means 8 a, 8 b through an electric energy supplying means 9 a-9 f installed on or through the reactor shell 1. The electric energy supplying means 9 a-9 f, which connects the heating means 8 a, 8 b in the reactor and an electric source E outside the reactor, may comprise a conductive metallic component in the form of a cable, a bar, a rod, a shaped body, a socket or a coupler. Otherwise the electric energy supplying means 9 a-9 f may comprise an electrode that is made of a material such as graphite, ceramic (e.g., silicon carbide), metal or a mixture thereof, and is fabricated in various shapes for connecting the electric source E with the heating means. Alternatively, the electric energy supplying means can be prepared by extending a part of the heating means 8 a, 8 b. In combining the electric energy supplying means 9 a-9 f with the reactor shell 1, electrical insulation is also important besides the mechanical sealing for preventing gas leak. Further, it is desirable to cool down the temperature of the electric energy supplying means 9 by using a circulating cooling medium such as water, an oil and a gas.

Meanwhile, a gas inlet means should be installed at the fluidized bed reactor to form a fluidized bed, where silicon particles can move by gas flow, within the reactor tube 2, i.e., in a lower part of the inner zone 4, for preparation of polycrystalline silicon by the silicon deposition on the surface of the fluidizing silicon particles.

The gas inlet means comprises a fluidizing gas inlet means 14, 14′ for introducing a fluidizing gas 10 into the silicon particle bed and a reaction gas inlet means 15 for introducing a silicon atom-containing reaction gas the silicon particle bed, both of which are installed in combination with the reactor shell 1 b.

In this respect, granular polycrystalline silicon may be prepared according to the present invention by introducing a fluidizing gas 10 into the silicon particle bed using a fluidizing gas inlet means 14, 14′, and introducing a silicon atom-containing reaction gas 11 into the silicon particle bed using a reaction gas inlet means 15.

As used herein, “a fluidizing gas” 10 refers to a gas introduced to cause some or most of the silicon particles 3 to be fluidized in the fluidized bed formed within the inner zone 4. In the present invention, hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, helium, hydrogen chloride (HCl), silicon tetrachloride (SiCl₄) or a mixture thereof may be used as the fluidizing gas 10.

As used herein, “a reaction gas” 11 refers to a source gas containing silicon atoms, which is used to prepare the polycrystalline silicon particles. In the present invention, monosilane (SiH₄), dichlorosilane (SiH₂Cl₂), trichlorosilane (SiHCl₃), silicon tetrachloride (SiCl₄) or a mixture thereof may be used as the silicon-containing reaction gas 11. The reaction gas 11 may further comprise at least one gas selected from hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, helium and hydrogen chloride. Further, in addition to serving as a source for silicon deposition, the reaction gas 11 contributes to the fluidization of the silicon particles 3 as the fluidizing gas 10 does.

The fluidizing gas inlet means 14, 14′ and the reaction gas inlet means 15 may comprise a tube or nozzle, a chamber, a flange, a fitting, a gasket, etc, respectively. Among these components, the parts exposed to the inner space of the reactor shell 1, especially to the lower part of the inner zone 4, where the parts are likely to contact the silicon particles 3, are preferred to be made of a tube, a liner or a shaped article the material of which is selected from those applicable to the reactor tube 2.

Optionally, the lower part of the fluidized bed 4 a in the inner zone 4 may comprise an additional gas distributing means 19 for distributing the fluidizing gas 10 in combination with the fluidizing gas inlet means 14, 14′ and the reaction gas inlet means 15. The gas distributing means 19 may have any geometry or structure including a multi-hole or porous distribution plate, a packed bed of packing materials submerged in the particle bed, a nozzle or a combination thereof. When the gas distributing means 19 is additionally employed, its component, like the upper surface of the gas distributing means 19, which is likely to contact the silicon particles 3, is preferably made of an inorganic material that can be used for the reactor tube 2. To prevent silicon deposition on the upper surface of the gas distributing means 19, the outlet of the reaction gas inlet means 15, through which a reaction gas 11 is injected into the interior of the fluidized bed, is preferably positioned higher than the upper part of the gas distributing means 19.

In the reactor inner zone 4, the fluidizing gas 10, which is required to form the fluidized bed 4 a of silicon particles, may be supplied in various ways depending on how the fluidizing gas inlet means 14, 14′ is constituted. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the fluidizing gas 10 may be supplied by a fluidizing gas inlet means 14, 14′ coupled with the reactor shell 1 so that a gas chamber may be formed in lower part of the distribution plate-shaped gas distributing means 19. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a fluidizing gas 10 may be supplied by a fluidizing gas inlet means 14 coupled with the reactor shell 1 so that one or a plurality of fluidizing gas nozzle outlet may be positioned in between the gas distributing means 19 that comprises a third packed bed of packing materials other than those fluidizing silicon particles. Meanwhile, the gas distributing means 19 and the fluidizing gas inlet means 14, 14′ may be constituted by using both the distribution plate and the packing materials.

As an example, in addition to the distribution plate and/or the nozzle(s) for introducing the fluidizing gas 10, it is possible to employ a packed bed of packing materials other than the silicon particles 3 to be included in the silicon product particles 3 b. The packing materials may have a sufficient size or mass, so as not to be fluidized by the flow of the fluidizing gas 10, and may be shaped like a sphere, an ellipsoid, a pellet, a nugget, a tube, a rod, or a ring, etc. The packing materials composition may be selected from those applicable to the reactor tube 2 as well as high-purity silicon, with their average size being within the range of 5-50 mm.

When employed as a gas distributing means 19, the packed bed of packing materials, which are not fluidized by the flow of the fluidizing gas 10, may preferably be formed in a lower part of the silicon particle bed with the height of the packed bed being positioned below the outlet of the reaction gas inlet means 15 through which the reaction gas 11 is introduced into the silicon particle bed. In this case, the movement of silicon particles and the flow of the fluidizing gas may occur in the space formed between the packing materials, while the heat transferred downward from the fluidized bed of silicon particles 3 heated by the heating means being utilized for preheating the upcoming fluidizing gas 10.

In the present invention, the polycrystalline silicon particles are prepared in the inner zone 4 of the reactor based on the silicon deposition. Following the supply of the reaction gas 11 through the reaction gas inlet means 15, the silicon deposition occurs on the surface of the silicon particles 3 heated by the heating means 8 a, 8 b.

In addition, granular polycrystalline silicon may be prepared by discharging 11 polycrystalline silicon particles prepared within the inner zone 4 to the outside of the fluidized bed reactor.

A particle outlet means 16 is also required to be combined with the reactor shell 1 to discharge thus prepared silicon particles from the inner zone 4 to the outside of the fluidized bed reactor.

An outlet pipe, which constitutes the particle outlet means 16, may be assembled with the reaction gas inlet means 15 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Alternatively, it may be installed independently of the reaction gas inlet means 15 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Through the particle outlet means 16 the silicon particles 3 b may be discharged when required from the fluidized bed 4 a in a continuous, periodic, or intermittent way.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, an additional zone may be combined with the reactor shell 1. The additional zone can be provided at some part or a lower part of the fluidizing gas inlet means 14′, allowing a space for the silicon particles 3 b to reside or stay with an opportunity of cooling before being discharged from the reactor.

Silicon particles 3, i.e., silicon particles 3 discharged from the inner zone 4 to the outside of the reactor according to the present invention, may be delivered to a storage member or a transfer member of the polycrystalline silicon product, which is directly connected to the reactor. Meanwhile, thus-prepared silicon product particles 3 b may have a particle-size distribution due to nature of the fluidized bed reactor, and smaller particles included therein may be used as seed crystals 3 a for the silicon deposition. It is thus possible that the silicon product particles 3 b discharged from the inner zone 4 to the outside of the reactor may be delivered to a particle separation member where the particles can be separated by size. Then the larger particles may be delivered to the storage member or the transfer member, while the smaller particles are used as seed crystals 3 a.

Otherwise, considering the relatively high-temperature of the silicon particle bed 4 a within the inner zone 4, the silicon particles 3 b are preferred to be cooled down while being discharged through the particle outlet means 16. For this purpose, a cooling gas such as hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, helium, or a mixture thereof may flow in the particle outlet means 16, or a cooling medium such as water, oil or gas may be circulated through the wall of the particle outlet means 16.

Alternatively, although it is not illustrated in Drawings, the particle outlet means 16 may be constituted in combination with the inner space of the reactor shell 1 (e.g. 14′ in FIG. 2) or a lower part of the reactor shell (e.g., 1 b in FIGS. 2 and 3), allowing a sufficient space for the silicon particles 3 b to reside or stay with an opportunity of cooling for a certain period of time before being discharged to the outside of the reactor.

It is necessary to prevent the silicon product particles 3 b from being contaminated while discharged from the reactor through the particle outlet means 16. Therefore, in constituting the particle outlet means 16, the elements that may contact high-temperature silicon product particles 3 b may be made of a tube, a liner or a shaped product that is made of or coated with an inorganic material applicable to the reactor tube 2. These elements of the particle outlet means 16 are preferred to be coupled to the metallic reactor shell and/or a protection pipe.

The components of the particle outlet means 16, which are in contact with the relatively low-temperature product particles or comprise a cooling means on their wall, may be made of a metal-material tube, a liner or a shaped product, the inner wall of which is coated or lined with a fluorine-containing polymer material.

As mentioned above, the silicon product particles 3 b may be discharged from the inner zone 4 in the reactor through the particle outlet means 16 to a storage member or a transfer member of the polycrystalline silicon product in a continuous, periodic, or intermittent way.

Meanwhile, a particle separation member may be installed in between the reactor and the product storage member, to separate the silicon product particles 3 b by size and use small-sized particles as seed crystals 3 a. Various commercial devices may be used as the particle separation member in the present invention.

It is desirable to constitute the elements of the particle separation member, which may be in contact with the silicon product particles 3 b, by using the same material as the one used in the particle outlet means 16, or pure polymer material that does not contain either an additive or a filler.

For continuous operation of the fluidized bed reactor, it is necessary to combine the reactor shell 1 d with a gas outlet means 17 which is installed for discharging an off-gas from the fluidized bed reactor. The off-gas 13 comprises a fluidizing gas that passes through the silicon particle bed, a non-reacted reaction gas and a byproduct gas, passes through the upper part of the inner zone, 4 c, and is finally discharged to the outside of the fluidized bed reactor.

Fine silicon particles or high-molecular-weight byproducts entrained in the off-gas 13 may be separated from an additional off-gas treating means 34.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, an off-gas treating means 34, which comprises a cyclone, a filter, a packed column, a scrubber or a centrifuge, may be installed outside the reactor shell 1 or at the upper zone 4 c of the inner zone within the reactor shell 1.

Fine silicon particles, thus separated from the off-gas treating means 34, may be used for another purpose, or as seed crystals 3 a for preparing silicon particles after being recycled into the fluidized bed 4 a at the inner zone of the reactor.

When manufacturing silicon particles in a continuous manner, it is preferred to maintain the number and the average particle size of the silicon particles, which forms the fluidized bed 4 a, within a certain range. This may be obtained by supplementing nearly the same number of the seed crystals within the fluidized bed 4 a as that of the discharged silicon product particles 3 b.

As mentioned above, the fine silicon particles or powders separated from the off-gas treating means 34 may be recycled as seed crystals, but their amount can not be sufficient. It is then required to further yield, generate or prepare additional silicon seed crystals for continuous preparation of the silicon particles as required in the fluidized bed.

In this regard, it may be necessary to further separate the smaller silicon particles among the silicon product particles 3 b and use them as seed crystals 3 a. However, the additional process for separating seed crystals 3 a from the product particles 3 b outside the fluidized bed reactor has drawbacks of high chances of contamination and difficulties in operation.

Instead of the additional separation of product particles 3 b, it is also possible to separate smaller particles out of them and to recycle the smaller particles as seed crystals into the fluidized bed. To this purpose an additional particle separation member may be installed in the middle of a discharge path included in the particle outlet means 16. Supplying a gas into the pathway in a counter-current manner leads to cooling of the product particles 3 b, separation of smaller particles out of them and recycling of the smaller particles into the fluidized bed 4 a. This reduces the burden of preparing or supplying seed crystals, and increases the average particle size of the final silicon product particles 3 b while decreasing their particle size distribution.

As another embodiment, the silicon seed crystals may be prepared by pulverizing some of silicon product particles 3 b discharged through the particle outlet means 16 into seed crystals in a separate pulverizing apparatus. Thus prepared seed crystals 3 a may be introduced into the inner zone 4 of the reactor in a continuous, periodic or intermittently way as required. One example when seed crystals 3 a is downwardly introduced into the inner zone 4 is illustrated in FIG. 2, where a seed crystals inlet means 18 is combined with the topside of the reactor shell 1 d. This method allows an efficient control in the average size and the feeding rate of seed crystals 3 a as required, while it has a drawback of requiring an additional pulverizing apparatus.

On the contrary, silicon particles may be pulverized into seed crystals inside fluidized bed 4 a by using an outlet nozzle of a reaction gas inlet means 15 combined with the reactor shell or an additionally installed gas nozzle for a high-speed gas jet inside the fluidized bed allowing particle pulverization. This method has an economic advantage because it needs no additional pulverizing device, while having a drawback that it is difficult to control the size and the amount of the seed crystals being generated in the reactor within a predetermined acceptable range.

In the present invention, the inner zone 4 comprises all spaces required for forming a silicon particle bed 4 a, introducing a fluidizing gas 10 and a reaction gas 11 into the silicon particle bed 4 a, allowing silicon deposition, and discharging the off-gas 13 containing a fluidizing gas, a non-reacted reaction gas and a byproduct gas. Therefore, the inner zone 4 plays a fundamental role for silicon deposition in the fluidized bed of silicon particles 3 and preparation of polycrystalline silicon product particles.

In contrast to the inner zone 4, the outer zone 5 is an independently formed space in between the outer wall of the reactor tube 2 and the reactor shell 1, where a silicon particle bed 3 is not formed and silicon deposition does not occur because the reaction gas is not supplied therein. Therefore, the outer zone 5 may be defined as the inner space within the reactor shell 1 excluding the inner zone or the space formed in between the reactor shell 1 and the reactor tube 2.

In addition to the above-mentioned embodiments according to the present invention, granular polycrystalline silicon may be prepared by introducing an inert gas into the outer zone 5, whereby maintaining a substantially inert gas atmosphere in the outer zone 5.

The importance and roles of the outer zone 5 maintained in an inert gas atmosphere according to the present invention may be summarized as follows.

First, the outer zone 5 provides a space for protecting the reactor tube 2 by maintaining pressure difference between the inner zone 4 and the outer zone 5 within a certain range.

Second, the outer zone 5 provides a space for installing an insulating material 6 that prevents or decreases heat loss from the reactor.

Third, the outer zone 5 provides a space for a heater to be installed around the reactor tube 2.

Fourth, the outer zone 5 provides a space for maintaining a substantially inert gas atmosphere outside the reactor tube 2 to prevent dangerous gas containing oxygen and impurities from being introduced into the inner zone 4, and for safely installing and maintaining the reactor tube 2 inside the reactor shell 1.

Fifth, the outer zone 5 allows a real-time monitoring of the status of the reactor tube 2 during operation. The analysis or measurement of the outer-zone gas sample from the outer zone connecting means 28 may reveal the presence or concentration of a gas component that may exist in the inner zone 4, the change of which may indirectly reveal an accident at the reactor tube.

Sixth, the outer zone 5 provides a space for installing a heater 8 b surrounding the reactor tube 2, as illustrated in FIG. 3, for heating up and chemically removing the silicon deposit layer accumulated on the inner wall of the reactor tube 2 due to silicon deposition operation.

Lastly, the outer zone 5 provides a space required for efficient assembly or disassembly of the reactor tube 2 and the inner zone 4.

According to the present invention, the outer zone 5 plays many important roles as mentioned above. Thus, the outer zone may be partitioned into several sections in an up-and-down and/or a radial or circumferential direction, utilizing one or more of tubes, plates, shaped articles or fittings as partitioning means.

When the outer zone 5 is further partitioned according to the present invention, the divided sections are preferred to be spatially communicated with each other while having substantially the same atmospheric condition and pressure.

An insulating material 6, which may be installed in the outer zone 5 for greatly reducing heat transfer via radiation or conduction, may be selected from industrially acceptable inorganic materials in the form of a cylinder, a block, fabric, a blanket, a felt, a foamed product, or a packing filler material.

The heating means 8 a, 8 b, connected to an electric energy supplying means 9, which is connected to the reactor shell for maintaining reaction temperature in the fluidized bed reactor, may be installed in the outer zone 5 only, or installed alone within the inner zone 4, especially within the silicon particle bed 4 a. The heating means 8 a, 8 b, may be installed in both the inner zone 4 and the outer zone 5, if required, as illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates an example when a plurality of independent heating means 8 a, 8 b are installed in the outer zone 5.

When a plurality of heating means 8 a, 8 b are installed in the fluidized bed reactor, they may be electrically connected in series or parallel relative to an electric source E. Alternatively, the power supplying system comprising an electric source E and an electric energy supplying means 9 a-9 f may be constituted independently as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the heater 8 a installed within the silicon particle bed 4 a may have an advantage of directly heating silicon particles in the fluidized bed. In this case, to prevent accumulative silicon deposition on the surface of the heater 8 a, the heater 8 a is preferably positioned lower than the reaction gas outlet of a reaction gas inlet means 15.

In the present invention, an inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b is installed on the reactor shell, independently of the inner zone 4, to maintain a substantially inert gas atmosphere in the outer zone 5 precluding silicon deposition. The inert gas 12 may be one or more selected from hydrogen, nitrogen, argon and helium.

An inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b, which is installed on or through the reactor shell and spatially connected to the outer zone 5, has the function of piping connection for supplying or discharging an inert gas 12, and may be selected from a tube, a nozzle, a flange, a valve, a fitting or a combination thereof.

Meanwhile, apart from the inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b, a reactor shell, which is spatially exposed to the outer zone 5 directly or indirectly, may be equipped with an outer zone connecting means 28. Then, the outer zone connecting means 28 may be used to measure and/or control temperature, pressure or gas component. Although even a single inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b may allow to maintain a substantially inert gas atmosphere in the outer zone 5, the supply or discharge of an inert gas may be independently performed by using a double-pipe or a plurality of inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b.

Further, the inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b maintains an independent inert gas atmosphere in the outer zone 5, and may also be used for measuring and/or controlling flow rate, temperature, pressure or gas component, which can also be performed by using the outer zone connecting means 28.

FIGS. 2 and 3 provide various examples in a comprehensive way where the outer zone pressure (Po), i.e., pressure in the outer zone 5 is measured and/or controlled by using the inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b or outer zone connecting means 28.

The outer zone connecting means 28 may be installed to measure and/or control the maintenance of the outer zone 5, independently of or on behalf of the inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b. The outer zone connecting means 28 has the function of piping connection, and may be selected from a tube, a nozzle, a flange, a valve, a fitting or their combination. If the inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b is not installed, the outer zone connecting means 28 may be used to supply or discharge an inert gas 12 as well as to measure or control temperature, pressure or gas component. Therefore, it is not necessary to differentiate the inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b from the outer zone connecting means 28 in respect of shape and function.

Meanwhile, unlike the outer zone 5 where pressure may be maintained nearly constant irrespective of position and time, there exists inevitably a pressure difference within the inner zone 4 according to the height of the fluidized bed 4 a of silicon particles 3. Thus, the inner zone pressure (Pi), i.e., pressure in the inner zone 4 changes according to the height in the inner zone 4.

Although the pressure drop imposed by the fluidized bed of solid particles depends on the height of the fluidized bed, it is common to maintain the pressure drop by fluidized bed less than about 0.5-1 bar unless the height of the fluidized bed is excessively high. Further, irregular fluctuation of the pressure is inevitable with time due to the nature of the fluidization of solid particles. Thus, pressure may vary in the inner zone 4 according to position and time.

Considering these natures, the pressure controlling means for the inner zone pressure (Pi), i.e., the inner pressure controlling means 30 for directly or indirectly measuring and/or controlling pressure in the inner zone 4 may be installed at such a point among various positions that it may be spatially connected to the inner zone 4.

Pressure controlling means according to the present invention, i.e., the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31 may be installed on or through various positions depending on the details of the reactor assembly as well as on the operational parameters to be controlled.

The inner pressure controlling means 30 may be spatially connected to the inner zone 4 through an inner zone connecting means 24, 25, a fluidizing gas inlet means 14, a reaction gas inlet means 15, a particle outlet means 16, or a gas outlet means 17, which are spatially exposed directly or indirectly to the inner zone 4.

Meanwhile, the pressure controlling means for the outer zone pressure (Po), i.e., the outer pressure controlling means 31 may be spatially connected to the outer zone 5 through an outer zone connecting means 28 or an inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b, etc., which are installed on or through the reactor shell 1 and spatially exposed directly or indirectly to the outer zone 5.

According to a preferable embodiment of the present invention for preparing granular polycrystalline silicon, the inner pressure controlling means 30 and/or the outer pressure controlling means 31 comprise the components necessary for directly or indirectly measuring and/or controlling pressure.

Either of the pressure controlling means, 30 and 31, comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: (a) a connecting pipe or fitting for spatial connection; (b) a manually-operated, semi-automatic, or automatic valve; (c) a digital- or analog-type pressure gauge or pressure-difference gauge; (d) a pressure indicator or recorder; and (e) an element constituting a controller with a signal converter or an arithmetic processor.

The inner pressure controlling means 30 is interconnected with the outer pressure controlling means 31 in the form of a mechanical assembly or a signal circuit. Further, either of the pressure controlling means may be partially or completely integrated with a control system selected from the group consisting of a central control system, a distributed control system and a local control system.

Although the inner pressure controlling means 30 and/or the outer pressure controlling means 31 may be independently constituted in terms of pressure, either of the pressure controlling means may be partially or completely integrated with a means for measuring and/or controlling a parameter selected from the group consisting of flow rate, temperature, gas component and particle concentration, etc.

Meanwhile, either of the controlling means, 30 or 31, may further comprise a separation device such as a filter or a scrubber for separating particles, or a container for buffering pressure. This protects the component of the pressure controlling means from contamination by impurities, and also provides a means to buffer pressure changes.

As an example, the inner pressure controlling means 30 may be installed at or connected to the inner zone connecting means 24, 25, which is installed on or through the reactor shell and is spatially exposed directly or indirectly to an inner zone 4 for measurement of pressure, temperature or gas component or for viewing inside the reactor. By constituting the inner pressure controlling means 30 so that it may be connected to the inner zone connecting means 24, 25, pressure in an upper part of the inner zone 4 c may be stably measured and/or controlled although it is difficult to detect the time-dependent pressure fluctuation due to the fluidized bed of silicon particles. For more accurate detection of the time-dependent pressure fluctuation related with the fluidized bed, the inner zone connecting means may be installed so that it may be spatially connected to the inside of the fluidized bed.

The inner pressure controlling means 30 may also be installed at or connected to other appropriate positions, i.e., a fluidizing gas inlet means 14 or a reaction gas inlet means 15 or a particle outlet means 16 or a gas outlet means 17, etc., all of which are combined with the reactor shell thus being spatially connected to the inner zone 4.

Further, a plurality of inner pressure controlling means 30 may be installed at two or more appropriate positions which ultimately allow spatial connection with the inner zone 4 through the inner zone connecting means 24, 25 and/or those at other positions.

As mentioned above, the presence of silicon particles affects the inner zone pressure, Pi. Thus, the measured value of Pi varies according to the position where the inner pressure controlling means 30 is installed. Following observations by the present inventors, the value of Pi is influenced by the characteristics of the fluidized bed and by the structure of a fluidizing gas inlet means 14 or a reaction gas inlet means 15 or a particle outlet means 16 or a gas outlet means 17, but its positional deviation according to pressure measurement point is normally observed to be not greater than 1 bar.

Then, the present invention permits to carry out directly or indirectly measuring and/or controlling an inner zone pressure using the inner pressure controlling means 30, directly or indirectly measuring and/or controlling an outer zone pressure using an outer pressure controlling means 31, and maintaining the difference between the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure within 1 bar using the pressure-difference controlling means.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer pressure controlling means 31, for directly or indirectly measuring and/or controlling the outer zone pressure, i.e., pressure in the outer zone 5, is preferred to be installed so that it may be spatially connected to the outer zone 5. The position where the outer pressure controlling means 31 may be connected or installed includes, for example, an outer zone connecting means 28 or an inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b installed on or through the reactor shell, which is spatially connected to the outer zone 5 directly or indirectly. In the present invention, the outer zone 5 is required to be maintained in a substantially inert gas atmosphere. Thus, the outer zone connecting means 28 may also comprise the function of an inert gas connecting means 26 a that may be used for introducing an inert gas 12 to the outer zone 5 or an inert gas connecting means 26 b that may be used for discharging an inert gas 12 from the outer zone 5. This means that the inert gas inlet means 26 a or the inert gas outlet means 26 b may be used as the inert gas connecting means 26 and the outer zone connecting means 28. Further, the inert gas inlet means 26 a and the inert gas outlet means 26 b may be installed separately at those connecting means 26, 28, or be connected to either of those connecting means 26, 28 as an integrated double tube-type structure. Therefore, it is possible to spatially connect the outer zone 5 to the outer pressure controlling means 31 for directly or indirectly measuring and/or controlling pressure in the outer zone 5 through an inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b or an outer zone connecting means 28.

In the present invention, the inner pressure controlling means 30 and/or the outer pressure controlling means 31 may be used to maintain the value of |Po−Pi|, i.e. the difference between the pressure in the inner zone 4, i.e., the inner zone pressure (Pi) and the pressure in the outer zone 5, i.e., the outer zone pressure (Po) within 1 bar. However, it should be noted in constituting the inner pressure controlling means 30 that Pi may vary depending on the position selected for connection to the inner zone.

The value of Pi measured through an inner zone connecting means 24, 25, a fluidizing gas inlet means 14, a reaction gas inlet means 15, or a particle outlet means 16, etc., which are installed at the positions spatially connected to an inner or lower part of the fluidized bed, is higher than the value of Pi measured through an inner zone connecting means, a gas outlet means 17 or silicon seed crystals inlet means 18, etc., which are installed at the positions spatially connected to a space like an upper part of the inner zone 4 c and are not in direct contact with the fluidized bed of silicon particles.

Especially, the pressure value, measured through an inner zone connecting means, a fluidizing gas inlet means 14 or a particle outlet means 16, which is spatially connected to a lower part of the fluidized bed of silicon particles, shows a maximum inner zone pressure value, Pi_(max). On the contrary, a minimum inner zone pressure value, Pi_(min), may be obtained when measured through a gas outlet means 17 or an inner zone connecting means 24, 25, which is not in direct contact with the fluidized bed. This is because there is a pressure difference depending on the height of the fluidized bed of silicon particles 4 a and the value of Pi is always higher in the lower part as compared to that in the upper part of the fluidized bed.

This pressure difference increases with the height of the fluidized bed. An excessively high bed with the pressure difference being 1 bar or higher is not preferred because the height of the reactor becomes too high to be used. In contrast, a very shallow bed with the pressure difference of 0.01 bar or lower is not preferred either, because the height and volume of the fluidized bed is too small to achieve an acceptable minimum productivity of the reactor.

Therefore, the pressure difference in the fluidized bed is preferred to be within the range of 0.01-1 bar. That is, pressure differences between maximum pressure value (Pi_(max)) and minimum pressure value (Pi_(min)) in the inner zone 4 is preferred to be within 1 bar.

When maintaining the value of |Po−Pi|, i.e., pressure difference between inside and outside the reactor tube 2 within the range of 0 to 1 bar, it should be noted that the pressure difference may vary depending on the height of the reactor tube 2.

It is preferred to meet the requirements of Po≦Pi and 0 bar≦(Pi−Po)≦1 bar, when the inner pressure controlling means 30 is spatially connected to the inner zone 4 through an inner zone connecting means, a fluidizing gas inlet means 14, a reaction gas inlet means 15 or a particle outlet means 16, etc., which is connected to an inner or lower part of the fluidized bed of silicon particles, the pressure of which is higher than that of the upper part of the inner zone 4 c.

In contrast, it is preferred to meet the requirements of Pi≦Po and 0 bar≦(Po−Pi)≦1 bar, when the inner pressure controlling means 30 is spatially connected to the inner zone 4 through a gas outlet means 17, a silicon seed crystals inlet means 18, or an inner zone connecting means 24, 25, etc., which is not spatially connected to the silicon particle bed but connected to an upper part of the inner zone 4 c, the pressure of which is lower than that of the inner or lower part of the fluidized bed.

It may also be permissible to constitute the inner pressure controlling means 30 and/or the outer pressure controlling means 31 in such manner that Pi or Po is represented by an average of a plurality of pressure values measured at one or more positions. Especially, because there may be pressure difference in the inner zone 4 depending on the connection position, the inner pressure controlling means 30 may comprise a controlling means with an arithmetic processor that is capable of estimating an average value of pressure from those values measured with two or more pressure gauges.

Therefore, when maintaining the value of |Po−Pi|, i.e., the pressure difference value between inside and outside the reaction tube, within 1 bar, it is preferred to maintain the pressure value at outer zone 5, Po, in between Pi_(max) and Pi_(min), which are maximum and minimum values, respectively, that can be measured by the spatial connection of those pressure controlling means to the inner zone 4.

The inner pressure controlling means 30 and/or outer pressure controlling means 31 according to the present invention should comprise a pressure-difference controlling means that maintains the value of |Po−Pi| within 1 bar.

The pressure-difference controlling means may be comprised in only one of the inner pressure controlling means 30 or the outer pressure controlling means 31, or in both of the controlling means independently, or in the two controlling means 30, 31 in common.

However, it is preferred to apply and maintain a pressure-difference controlling means with consideration that pressure value varies depending on the position selected for measuring the pressure in the inner zone 4, Pi. When Pi is measured through a fluidizing gas inlet means 14, a reaction gas inlet means 15, a particle outlet means 16, or an inner zone connecting means, etc., which are spatially connected to inner part of the fluidized bed, especially to the lower part of the fluidized bed, where the pressure is higher than that in an upper part of the inner zone 4 c, the pressure-difference controlling means may preferably be operated so that the requirements of Po≦Pi and 0 bar≦(Pi−Po)≦1 are satisfied. Then, the pressure-difference controlling means enables the outer zone pressure (Po) and inner zone pressure (Pi) to satisfy the requirement of 0 bar≦(Pi−Po)≦1 bar, with the inner pressure controlling means 30 being spatially connected to an inner part of the fluidized bed through a fluidizing gas inlet means 14 or a reaction gas inlet means 15 or a particle outlet means 16 or an inner zone connecting means.

In contrast, it is preferred to apply and maintain a pressure-difference controlling means so that the requirements of Pi≦Po and 0 bar≦(Po−Pi)≦1 bar may be satisfied if Pi is measured at a position that is spatially connected to the upper part of the inner zone 4 c among various parts of the inner zone 4. Then, the pressure-difference controlling means enables the requirement of 0 bar≦(Po−Pi)≦1 bar to be satisfied, with the inner pressure controlling means 30 being spatially connected to the inner zone 4 through a gas outlet means 17, a silicon seed crystals inlet means 18, or an inner zone connecting means 24, 25, which are not in direct contact with the fluidized bed of silicon particles.

In the present invention, being comprised in only one of the inner pressure controlling means 30 or the outer pressure controlling means 31, in both of the two controlling means 30, 31 independently, or in the two controlling means 30, 31 in common, the pressure-difference controlling means maintains the value of |Po−Pi| within 1 bar.

When the difference between Po and Pi is maintained within 1 bar by using the pressure-difference controlling means, very high or low values of Pi or Po do not influence on the reactor tube 2 because the pressure difference is small between the inner zone and the outer zone of the reactor tube 2.

It is preferred in terms of productivity to maintain the reaction pressure higher than at least 1 bar instead at a vacuum state less than 1 bar, if pressure is expressed in absolute unit in the present invention.

The feeding rates of fluidizing gas 10 and reaction gas 11 increase with pressure in a nearly proportional manner, based on mole number or mass per unit time. Thus, the heat duty in the fluidized bed 4 a for heating the reaction gas from an inlet temperature to the temperature required for reaction also increases with the reaction pressure, i.e., Po or Pi.

In case of the reaction gas 11, it is impossible to supply the gas into the reactor after preheating up to higher than about 350-400° C., i.e., incipient decomposition temperature. Meanwhile, it is inevitable to preheat the fluidizing gas 10 up to lower than the reaction temperature because impurity contamination is highly probable during a preheating step outside the fluidized bed reactor, and the fluidizing gas inlet means 14 can hardly be insulated to achieve a gas preheating to above the reaction temperature. Therefore, difficulties in heating increase with pressure. When the reaction pressure exceeds about 15 bar, it is difficult to heat the fluidized bed 4 a as required although a plurality of heating means 8 a, 8 b are additionally installed at the inner space of the reactor shell. Considering these practical limitations, the outer zone pressure (Po) or the inner zone pressure (Pi) is preferred to be maintained within the range of about 1-15 bar based on the absolute pressure.

According to the pressure within the reactor, the inner pressure controlling means 30 and/or the outer pressure controlling means 31 may comprise a pressure-difference controlling means that can reduce the pressure difference between inside and outside the reactor tube 2. This can be practiced in various ways, some examples of which are described hereinafter.

The reaction pressure may be set to a high level by using the pressure-difference controlling means without deteriorating the stability of the reactor tube 2, thus enabling to increase both the productivity and stability of the fluidized bed reactor.

For example, irrespective of the position of installation of the inner pressure controlling means 30 for ultimate connection to the inner zone 4, both of the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31 may comprise respective pressure-difference controlling means so that the inner zone pressure (Pi) in the inner zone 4 and the outer zone pressure (Po) in the outer zone 5 may be controlled at predetermined values of pressure, i.e. Pi* and Po*, respectively, satisfying the requirement of |Po*−Pi*|≦1 bar.

For this purpose, the inner pressure controlling means 30 may comprise a pressure-difference controlling means that maintains Pi at a predetermined value, Pi*. At the same time, the outer pressure controlling means 31 may also comprise a pressure-difference controlling means that maintains Po at such a predetermined value, Po*, that the requirement of |Po*−Pi*|≦1 bar is satisfied independently of the height. Likewise, the outer pressure controlling means 31 may comprise a pressure-difference controlling means that maintains Po at a predetermined value, Po*. At the same time, the inner pressure controlling means 30 may also comprise a pressure-difference controlling means that maintains Pi at such a predetermined value, Pi*, that the requirement of |Po*−Pi*|≦1 bar is satisfied independently of the height.

As an another embodiment, irrespective of the position of installation of the inner pressure controlling means 30 for ultimate connection to the inner zone 4, the inner pressure controlling means 30 may comprise a pressure-difference controlling means that maintains Pi at a predetermined value, Pi*, while the outer pressure controlling means 31 may comprise a pressure-difference controlling means that controls the outer zone pressure, Po, in accordance with the change of the real-time inner zone pressure so that the requirement of |Po−Pi|≦1 bar is satisfied independently of the height.

Meanwhile, when determining the values of the control parameters, Pi* and Po*, which are predetermined for maintaining the difference between Po and Po within 1 bar, it may be necessary to consider whether or not impurity components can possibly migrate through a sealing means 41 a, 41 b of reactor tube 2.

In assembling the fluidized bed reactor for operation according to the present invention, there exists a practical limit that a sufficient degree of gas-tight sealing may not be obtained at sealing means 41 a, 41 b for reactor tube 2. Further, its degree of sealing can be reduced by the shear stress imposed on reactor tube 2 due to fluidization of silicon particles 3. In the present invention, the problem of possible migration of impurity components between the inner zone 4 and the outer zone 5 through the sealing means 41 a, 41 b may be solved by properly presetting the values of control parameters, i.e., Pi* and Po*, for the pressure-difference controlling means.

According to the present invention, the pressure control parameters to be used at the pressure-difference controlling means for controlling pressures in the inner zone and the outer zone, respectively, may be predetermined based on the analysis of the composition of off-gas 13 or the gas present in outer zone 5. For example, the pattern of impurity migration between inner zone 4 and outer zone 5 through the sealing means 41 a, 41 b may be deduced based on the component analysis on off-gas 13 sampled through the gas outlet means 17 or off-gas treating means 34, or that on the gas present in outer zone 5 sampled through an outer zone connecting means 28 or an inert gas connecting means 26 b. If off-gas 13 is verified to comprise the constituent of inert gas 12, which is not supplied into the inner zone, the influx of impurity elements from outer zone 5 into inner zone 4 may be decreased or prevented by presetting the value of Pi* higher than that of Po*, i.e., Pi*>Po*. In contrast, if the gas discharged out of outer zone 5 is verified to comprise the constituent of off-gas 13 of inner zone 4 besides that of inert gas 12, the influx of the impurity elements from inner zone 4 into outer zone 5 may be decreased or prevented by presetting the value of Po* higher than that of Pi*, i.e., Po*>Pi*.

As mentioned above, although the sealing means 41 a, 41 b of reactor tube 2 may not be installed or maintained in a satisfactory manner during the assembly or operation of the fluidized bed reactor, an undesirable migration of impurity components between the two zones through the sealing means may be minimized or prevented by appropriate selection of the control parameters for the pressure controlling means. Here, at whatever values Pi* and Po* may be preset in the pressure-difference controlling means, the requirement of |Po*−Pi*|≦1 bar should be satisfied according to the present invention.

As another example to accomplish the object of the present invention, the pressure difference, i.e., ΔP=|Po−Pi| may be measured by interconnecting the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31, whereby the pressure-difference controlling means may maintain the value of ΔP within the range of 0 to 1 bar, irrespective of the position of inner zone 4 selected for measurement of Pi, by controlling the inner pressure controlling means 30 and/or the outer pressure controlling means 31 in a manual, semi-automatic or automatic way.

As still another example to accomplish the object of the present invention, the pressure-difference controlling means may comprise an equalizing line, which spatially interconnects a connecting pipe comprised in the inner pressure controlling means 30 and a connecting pipe comprised in the outer pressure controlling means 31. A connecting pipe, which is comprised in the inner pressure controlling means 30 and constitutes the equalizing line 23, may be installed at a position selected for spatial connection with inner zone 4, including but not limited to an inner zone connecting means 24, 25; a fluidizing gas inlet means 14, 14′; a reaction gas inlet means 15; a particle outlet means 16; a gas outlet means 17; or a seed crystals inlet means 18, all of which are spatially exposed to the inner zone in a direct or indirect manner. Meanwhile, a connecting pipe, which is comprised in the outer pressure controlling means 31 and constitutes an equalizing line 23, may be installed at a position selected for spatial connection with outer zone 5, including but not limited to an outer zone connecting means 28 or an inert gas connecting means 26 a, 26 b comprising the inert gas inlet means and the inert gas outlet means, all of which are coupled with the reactor shell and spatially exposed to the outer zone in a direct or indirect manner.

The equalizing line 23, which interconnects spatially the inner pressure controlling means 30 and outer pressure controlling means 31, may be referred to as a simplest form of the pressure-difference controlling means because it may always maintain the pressure difference between two interconnected zones 4, 5 at nearly zero.

Despite this advantage, when constituting the pressure-difference controlling means by the equalizing line 23 alone, gas and impurity components may undesirably be interchanged between two zones 4, 5. In this case, the impurity elements generated or discharged from an insulating material or a heating means installed in outer zone 5 may contaminate the inner zone 4, especially the polycrystalline silicon particles. Likewise, silicon fine powders or components of residual reaction gas or reaction byproduct discharged from the inner zone 4 may contaminate the outer zone 5.

Therefore, when the equalizing line 23 is used as the pressure-difference controlling means, a pressure equalizing means, which can decrease or prevent the possible interexchange of gas and impurity components between two zones 4, 5, may be further added to the equalizing line 23. The pressure equalizing means may comprise at least one means selected from a check valve, a pressure equalizing valve, a 3-way valve, a filter for separating particles, a damping container, a packed bed, a piston, an assistant control fluid, and a pressure compensation device using separation membrane, which, respectively, is able to prevent the possible interexchange of gas and impurity components without deteriorating the effect of pressure equalization.

Besides, the pressure-difference controlling means may comprise a manual valve for controlling pressure or flow rate, or may further comprise a(n) (semi-)automatic valve that performs a(n) (semi-)automatic control function according to a predetermined value of pressure or pressure difference. These valves may be installed in combination with a pressure gauge or a pressure indicator that exhibits a pressure or pressure difference.

The pressure gauge or the pressure indicator is available commercially in the form of either analogue, digital or hybrid device, and may be included in an integrated system of data acquisition, storage and control, if combined with a data processing means such as a signal converter or a signal processor, etc., and/or with a local controller, a distributed controller or a central controller including a circuit for performing an arithmetic operation.

Illustrative embodiments according to the Drawings herein are explained hereinafter in terms of the application of the pressure-difference controlling means for decreasing the pressure difference between inside and outside the reactor tube 2 in the fluidized bed reactor for preparing granular polycrystalline silicon.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows the characteristics of the method for preparing granular polycrystalline silicon according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a high-pressure fluidized bed reactor for preparing granular polycrystalline silicon, in which several embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in a comprehensive way.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a high-pressure fluidized bed reactor for preparing granular polycrystalline silicon, in which some other embodiments according to the present invention are illustrated in a comprehensive way.

CODE EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

 1: Reactor shell  2: Reactor tube  3: silicon particles  3a: Silicon seed crystals  3b: Silicon product particles  4: Inner zone  5: Outer zone  6: Insulating material  7: Liner  8: Heater  9: Electric energy supplying 10: Fluidizing gas means 11: Reaction gas 12: Inert gas 13: Off-gas 14: Fluidizing gas inlet means 15: Reaction gas inlet means 16: Particle outlet means 17: Gas outlet means 18: Silicon seed crystals inlet means 19: Gas distributing means 23: Equalizing line 24, 25: Inner zone connecting 26: Inert gas connecting means means 27: On/off valve 28: Outer zone connecting means 30: Inner pressure controlling 31: Outer pressure controlling means means 32: Pressure-difference gauge 33: Fluctuation reducing means 34: Off-gas treating means 35: Gas analyzing means 36: Filter 41: Sealing means E: Electric source

BEST MODE

The present invention is described more specifically by the following Examples. Examples herein are meant only to illustrate the present invention, but in no way to limit the scope of the claimed invention.

Example 1

Hereunder is provided a description of one embodiment where the inner zone pressure (Pi) and the outer zone pressure (Po) are independently controlled at predetermined values, Pi* and Po*, respectively, and the difference between the values of the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure is thereby maintained within the range of 0 to 1 bar.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, an inner pressure controlling means 30 may be constituted by interconnecting a first pressure control valve 30 b with a gas outlet means 17 through an off-gas treating means 34 for removing fine silicon particles, which are interconnected with each other by a connecting pipe. The pressure of the upper part of the inner zone 4 may be controlled at a predetermined value, Pi*, by using the first pressure control valve 30 b which behaves as an element of a pressure-difference controlling means.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 2, an outer pressure controlling means 31 may be constituted by interconnecting an inert gas connecting means 26 a, a fourth pressure gauge 31 a′ and a fourth pressure control valve 31 b′. Although being separately installed in FIG. 2, the fourth pressure gauge 31 a′ and the fourth pressure control valve 31 b′ may be integrated with each other by a circuit, and thus be constituted as a single device that can measure and control pressure at the same time.

When the inner pressure controlling means 30 is connected to an upper part of the inner zone 4 c, the pressure of which is lower than those in or below the fluidized bed, it is preferred to preset Pi* and Po* so that the condition of Po*≧Pi* may be satisfied.

In this Example, the outer zone pressure may be controlled at a predetermined value, Po*, so that the condition of 0 bar≦(Po*−Pi*)≦1 bar may be satisfied, by using the fourth pressure gauge 31 a′ and the fourth pressure valve 31 b′ both of which behave as elements of a pressure-difference controlling means.

However, when an inert gas 12 component is detected in the off-gas 13 by a gas analyzing means 35, which may be installed as illustrated in FIG. 3, Po* may be preset at a lower value so that the condition of Pi*≧Po* may be satisfied.

Meanwhile, the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31 may further comprise their own pressure-difference controlling means, respectively, thus enabling the condition of 0 bar≦|Po−Pi|≦1 bar to be satisfied, where Po and Pi are values of pressure measured in connection with the outer zone 5 and any position in the inner zone 4, respectively.

Example 2

Hereunder is provided a description of another embodiment where the inner zone pressure (Pi) and the outer zone pressure (Po) are independently controlled at the predetermined values, Pi* and Po*, respectively, and the difference between the values of the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure is thereby maintained within the range of 0 to 1 bar.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, an inner pressure controlling means 30 may be constituted by interconnecting a first pressure control valve 30 b with the gas outlet means 17 through the off-gas treating means 34 for removing fine silicon particles, which are interconnected with each other by a connecting pipe. The pressure of the upper part of the inner zone 4 may be controlled at a predetermined value, Pi*, by using the first pressure control valve 30 b which behaves as an element of a pressure-difference controlling means.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 2, an outer pressure controlling means 31 may be constituted by interconnecting an inert gas connecting means 26 b, an on/off valve 31 c, a third pressure gauge 31 a and a third pressure control valve 31 b. Although being separately installed in FIG. 2, the third pressure gauge 31 a and the third pressure control valve 31 b may be integrated with each other by a circuit, and thus be constituted as a single device that can measure and control pressure at the same time.

Unlike in Example 1, the supply of an inert gas 12 may be controlled by the third pressure control valve 31 b in combination with the Po control, instead of connecting the inert gas connecting means 26 a to a pressure-difference controlling means such as the fourth pressure gauge 31 a′ and the fourth pressure valve 31 b′

When the inner pressure controlling means 30 is connected to an upper part of the inner zone 4 c, the pressure of which is lower than those in or below the fluidized bed, it is preferred to preset Pi* and Po* so that the condition of Po*≧Pi* may be satisfied.

In this Example, the outer zone pressure may be controlled at a predetermined value, Po*, so that the condition of 0 bar≦(Po*−Pi*)≦1 bar may be satisfied, by the third pressure gauge 31 a and the third pressure control valve 31 b both of which behave as elements of a pressure-difference controlling means.

However, when an inert gas 12 component is detected in the off-gas 13 by a gas analyzing means 35, which may be installed as illustrated in FIG. 3, Po* may be preset at a lower value so that the condition of Pi*≧Po* may be satisfied.

Meanwhile, the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31 may further comprise their own pressure-difference controlling means, respectively, thus enabling the condition of 0 bar≦|Po−Pi|≦1 bar to be satisfied, where Po and Pi are values of pressure measured in connection with the outer zone 5 and any position in the inner zone 4, respectively.

Example 3

Hereunder is provided a description of one embodiment where the inner zone pressure (Pi) is controlled according to the change of the outer zone pressure (Po), and the difference between the values of the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure is thereby maintained within the range of 0 to 1 bar.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a gas outlet means 17, an off-gas treating means 34 for removing fine silicon particles and a first pressure control valve 30 b are interconnected with each other by a connecting pipe. Then an inner pressure controlling means 30 may be constituted by interconnecting the connecting pipe with an on/off valve 27 e and a pressure-difference gauge 32.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 2, an outer pressure controlling means 31 may be constituted by interconnecting an inert gas connecting means 26 b and a pressure-difference gauge 32, which are interconnected with each other by the connecting pipe. Here an inert gas 12 may be supplied to the outer zone through an inert gas connection means 26 a.

In the present example, the pressure-difference gauge 32 is be a common element for both the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31. Besides the pressure control valve 31 b, 31 b′ may be omitted.

When the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31 are constituted as described above, the difference between the outer zone pressure (Po) and the inner pressure (Pi) in upper part of the inner zone can be maintained to be lower than 1 bar independently of the change of the outer zone pressure (Po) by using the pressure-difference gauge 32 and the first pressure control valve 30 b both of which behave as elements of a pressure-difference controlling means.

Further, the inner pressure controlling means 30 may be connected to an upper part of the inner zone 4 c, the pressure of which is lower than those in or below the fluidized bed, and it is preferred to control the first pressure control valve 30 b so that the condition of Po≧Pi may be satisfied.

However, when an inert gas 12 component may be detected in the off-gas 13 by a gas analyzing means 35, which may be installed as illustrated in FIG. 3, the first pressure control valve 30 b may be controlled so that the condition of Pi≧Po may be satisfied.

Following the aforementioned constitution and operation of the fluidized bed reactor, the condition of 0 bar≦|Po−Pi|≦1 bar may be satisfied at any position in the inner zone 4.

Meanwhile, the object of the present Example may be accomplished either by automatic control of the integrated circuit of the pressure-difference gauge 32 and the first pressure control valve 30 b, or by manual operation of the first pressure control valve 30 b in accordance with the values of ΔP measured with the pressure-difference gauge 32.

Instead of the pressure-difference gauge 32, only a first pressure gauge 30 a and a third pressure gauge 31 a may be installed as the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31, respectively. Alternatively, the pressure-difference controlling means may be further corrected or improved by equipping a first pressure gauge 30 a and a third pressure gauge 31 a in the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31, respectively, in addition to the pressure-difference gauge 32.

Example 4

Hereunder is provided a description of another embodiment where the inner zone pressure (Pi) is controlled according to the change of the outer zone pressure (Po), and the difference between the values of the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure is thereby maintained within the range of 0 to 1 bar.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, an inner pressure controlling means 30 may be constituted by interconnecting a first pressure control valve 30 b with the gas outlet means 17 through the off-gas treating means 34 for removing fine silicon particles, which are interconnected with each other by a connecting pipe.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 2, an outer pressure controlling means 31 may be constituted by interconnecting an inert gas connecting means 26 a for supplying an inert gas 12 and a fourth pressure gauge 31 a′, which are interconnected with each other by the connecting pipe. Here, an inert gas 12 may be discharged through an inert gas connection means 26 b. Besides the pressure control valve 31 b, 31 b′ in FIG. 2 may be omitted.

When the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31 are constituted as described above, the difference between the outer zone pressure (Po) and the inner pressure (Pi) in the upper part of the inner zone 4 c can be maintained to be lower than 1 bar independently of the change of the outer zone pressure (Po) by using the fourth pressure gauge 31 a′ and the first pressure control valve 30 b both of which behave as elements of a pressure-difference controlling means.

Further, since the inner pressure controlling means 30 may be connected to an upper part of the inner zone 4 c, the pressure of which is lower than those in or below the fluidized bed, it is preferred to control the first pressure control valve 30 b so that the condition of Po≧Pi may be satisfied.

However, when an inert gas 12 component is detected in an off-gas 13 by a gas analyzing means 35, which may be installed as illustrated in FIG. 3, the first pressure control valve 30 b may be controlled so that the condition of Pi≧Po may be satisfied.

Following the aforementioned constitution and operation of the fluidized bed reactor, the condition of 0 bar≦|Po−Pi|≦1 bar may be satisfied at any position in the inner zone 4.

Meanwhile, the object of the present Example may be accomplished either by automatic control of the integrated circuit of the fourth pressure gauge 31 a′ and the first pressure control valve 30 b, or by manual operation of the first pressure control valve 30 b in accordance with the pressure value measured with the fourth pressure gauge 31 a′.

Instead of connecting a fourth pressure gauge 31 a′ to the inert gas connecting means 26, the outer pressure controlling means 31 may also be constituted by connecting a fifth pressure gauge 31 p to an outer zone connecting means 28 as illustrated in FIG. 2 or a fifth pressure gauge 31 p connected to the outer zone connecting means 28 a as illustrated in FIG. 3 or a third pressure gauge 31 a connected to an inert gas connecting means 26 b as illustrated in FIG. 3. Then, the respective pressure gauge employed in the outer pressure controlling means 31 may also behave as another element of the pressure-difference controlling means. Accordingly, the object of the present Example may be accomplished by regulating the first pressure control valve 30 b, which behaves as an element of the pressure-difference controlling means that is comprised in the inner pressure controlling means 30, in accordance with the other element of the pressure-difference controlling means that is comprised in a variety of outer pressure controlling means 31.

Example 5

Hereunder is provided a description of one embodiment where the outer zone pressure (Po) is controlled according to the change of the inner zone pressure (Pi), and the difference between the values of the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure is thereby maintained within the range of 0 to 1 bar.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, an inner pressure controlling means 30 may be constituted by interconnecting an on/off valve 27 d and a pressure-difference gauge 32 with an outer zone connecting means 25 instead of the gas outlet means 17, which are interconnected with each other by a connecting pipe.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the outer pressure controlling means 31 may be constituted by interconnecting a third pressure control valve 31 b and pressure-difference gauge 32 with an inert gas connecting means 26 b, which are interconnected with each other by the connecting pipe. This case corresponds to the case of constitution where the on/off valves 27 c, 27 e are closed. In the present example, the pressure-difference gauge 32 is a common element for both the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31.

When the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31 are constituted as described above, the difference between the outer zone pressure (Po) and the inner pressure (Pi) in the upper part of the inner zone 4 c can be maintained to be lower than 1 bar independently of the change of the inner zone pressure (Pi) by using the pressure-difference gauge 32 and the third pressure control valve 31 b both of which behave as elements of a pressure-difference controlling means.

Further, since the inner pressure controlling means 30 may be connected to an upper part of the inner zone 4 c the pressure of which is lower than those in or below the fluidized bed, the third pressure control valve 31 b may be controlled so that the condition of Po≧Pi may be satisfied.

However, when an inert gas 12 component is detected in an off-gas 13 by a gas analyzing means 35 which may be installed as illustrated in FIG. 3, the first pressure control valve 30 b may be controlled so that the condition of Pi≧Po may be satisfied.

Following the aforementioned constitution and operation of the fluidized bed reactor, the condition of 0 bar≦|Po−Pi|≦1 bar may be satisfied at any position in the inner zone 4.

Meanwhile, the object of the present Example may be accomplished either by automatic control of the integrated circuit of the pressure-difference gauge 32 and the third pressure control valve 31 b, or by manual operation of the third pressure control valve 31 b in accordance with the ΔP value measured with the pressure-difference gauge 32.

Instead of the pressure-difference gauge 32, only a first pressure gauge 30 a and a third pressure gauge 31 a may be installed as the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31, respectively. Alternatively, the pressure-difference controlling means may be further corrected or improved by equipping a first pressure gauge 30 a and a third pressure gauge 31 a in the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31, respectively, in addition to the pressure-difference gauge 32.

The outer pressure controlling means in this Example may be constituted in another form. For example, instead of interconnection of the pressure control valve 31 b and pressure-difference gauge 32 with the inert gas connecting means 26 b in FIG. 2, the outer pressure controlling means may also be constituted by interconnecting the fourth pressure valve 31 b′ and the pressure-difference gauge 32 with the inert gas connecting means 26 a for supplying the inert gas, which are interconnected with each other by a connecting pipe. If corresponding elements of the pressure-difference controlling means is further replaced together with such modification of the outer pressure controlling means, the object of the present Example may also be accomplished thereby.

Example 6

Hereunder is provided a description of another embodiment where the outer zone pressure (Po) is controlled according to the change of the inner zone pressure (Pi), and the difference between the values of the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure is thereby maintained within the range of 0 to 1 bar.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the inner pressure controlling means 30 may be constituted by interconnecting a second pressure gauge 30 a′ and a pressure-difference gauge 32 with a fluidizing gas inlet means 14, which are interconnected with each other by a connecting pipe and/or by electrical integration.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the outer pressure controlling means 31 may be constituted by interconnecting a third pressure gauge 31 a and a pressure-difference gauge 32, both of which are connected to an inert gas connecting means 26 b, with a second pressure control valve 30 b′ which is connected to an inert gas connecting means 26 a. Here, the interconnection may be achieved by the connecting pipe and/or by electrical integration.

In the present example, the pressure-difference gauge 32 is a common element for both the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31. The pressure-difference gauge 32 exhibits a physical and/or electrical signal for the difference between Pi and Po, which are measured with the second pressure gauge 30 a′ and the third pressure gauge 31 a, respectively.

A fluctuation reducing means 33 may further be applied to the pressure-difference gauge because the fluidization of silicon particles in the fluidized bed naturally introduces fluctuation in the value of Pi measured by the second pressure gauge 30 a′. The fluctuation reducing means 33 may comprise a pressure fluctuation damping (or buffering) means such as a physical device or a software-based device that transforms the fluctuating signals into an average Pi value for a predetermined short period of time (e.g., one second).

Then, by using the pressure-difference gauge 32 and the second pressure control valve 30 b′ both of which behave as elements of a pressure-difference controlling means, the difference between the outer zone pressure (Po) and the inner zone pressure (Pi) is maintained to be lower than 1 bar independently of the change of the inner zone pressure (Pi) measured through the fluidizing gas inlet means 14 in connection with the inner zone.

Further, since the inner pressure controlling means 30 may be connected to a lower part of the fluidized bed, the pressure of which is higher than that in upper part of the inner zone 4 c, the second pressure control valve 30 b′ may be controlled so that the condition of Po≦Pi may be satisfied.

However, when an off-gas 13 component is detected in an inert gas 12′ by a gas analyzing means 35, which may be installed as illustrated in FIG. 3, the second pressure control valve 30 b′ may be controlled so that the condition of Po≧Pi may be satisfied.

Following the aforementioned constitution and operation of the fluidized bed reactor, the condition of 0 bar≦|Po−Pi|≦1 bar may be satisfied at any position in the inner zone 4.

Meanwhile, the object of the present Example may be accomplished either by automatic control of the integrated circuit of the pressure-difference gauge 32 and the second pressure control valve 30 b′, or by manual operation of the second pressure control valve 30 b′ in accordance with the ΔP value measured with the pressure-difference gauge 32.

Further, on behalf of the third pressure gauge 31 a in connection with the inert gas connecting means 26 b, another outer pressure gauge may be connected to the pressure-difference gauge 32 for achieving the object of the present Example. For example, the outer pressure gauge may also be selected from the fifth pressure gauge 31 p in connection with the outer zone connecting means 28 a or a sixth pressure gauge 31 q in connection with the inert gas connecting means 26 a.

Example 7

Hereunder is provided a description of one embodiment where the difference between the values of the inner zone pressure and the outer pressure is maintained within the range of 0 to 1 bar by using an equalizing line spatially interconnecting the inner zone and the outer zone.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the equalizing line 23 may be composed of a connecting pipe which spatially interconnects an inner zone connecting means 25 with an inert gas connecting means 26 b.

In this case, the inner pressure controlling means 30 may be basically composed of the inner zone connecting means 25 and the connecting pipe, and may further comprise an on/off valve 27 d and a first pressure gauge 30 a as illustrated in FIG. 2. Meanwhile, the outer pressure controlling means 31 may be basically composed of a connecting means, which is selected from an inert gas connecting means 26 a or an outer zone connecting means 28, and the connecting pipe, and may further comprise an on/off valve 31 c and a third pressure gauge 31 a as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the present Example, an equalizing line 23 is composed of the two connecting pipes that constitute the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31, respectively. Therefore, the equalizing line 23 behaves, by itself, as a pressure-difference controlling means. Spatially interconnecting the upper part of the inner zone 4 c with the outer zone 5, the equalizing line 23 naturally prevents an apparent pressure difference between these two zones.

The pressure difference between Pi, measured at a lower part of the fluidized bed 4 a where Pi is highest in the bed, and Po, measured at an upper part of the inner zone 4 c, is usually below 1 bar. Thus, if the equalizing line 23 is used as the pressure-difference controlling means, the pressure difference between Pi and Po, i.e., between inside and outside of the reactor tube 2 may be maintained below 1 bar irrespective of the measurement point of Pi.

The object of the present Example may also be accomplished by selecting a space in connection with a gas outlet means 17, instead of the inner zone connecting means 25, for constituting the inner pressure controlling means 30.

Meanwhile, the effect of pressure equalization of Pi and Po attributed to the equalizing line 23, which is a pressure-difference controlling means in the present Example, may also be obtained when a pressure equalizing valve 27 c is further equipped at the equalizing line 23 enabling spatial partition of the inner zone and the outer zone.

Example 8

Hereunder is provided a description of another embodiment where the difference between the values of the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure is maintained within the range of 0 to 1 bar by using an equalizing line spatially interconnecting the inner zone and the outer zone

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the equalizing line 23 may be composed of a connecting pipe which spatially interconnects an inner zone connecting means 25 and an outer zone connecting means 28 b. In this case, the inner pressure controlling means 30 may be basically composed of the inner zone connecting means 25 and the connecting pipe. Meanwhile, the outer pressure controlling means 31 may be basically composed of the outer zone connecting means 28 b and the connecting pipe.

In the present Example, an equalizing line 23 is composed of the two connecting pipes that constitute the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31, respectively. Therefore, the equalizing line 23 behaves, by itself, as a pressure-difference controlling means. Spatially interconnecting the upper part of the inner zone 4 c with the outer zone 5, the equalizing line 23 naturally prevents an apparent pressure difference between these two zones.

The pressure difference between Pi, measured at a lower part of the fluidized bed 4 a where Pi is highest in the bed, and Po, measured at an upper part of the inner zone 4 c, is usually below 1 bar. Thus, if the equalizing line 23 is used as the pressure-difference controlling means, the pressure difference between Pi and Po, i.e., between inside and outside of the reactor tube 2 may be maintained below 1 bar irrespective of the measurement point of Pi.

Meanwhile, to prevent the migration of impure particles and components through the equalizing line 23, a filter 36 and/or an on/off valve 27 d may be further equipped at the equalizing line 23 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Example 9

Hereunder is provided a description of still another embodiment where the difference between the values of the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure is maintained within the range of 0 to 1 bar by using an equalizing line spatially interconnecting the inner zone and the outer zone.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the equalizing line 23 may be composed of a connecting pipe which spatially interconnects a gas outlet means 17 with an inert gas connecting means 26 b.

In this case, the inner pressure controlling means 30 may be basically composed of the gas outlet means 17, an off-gas treating means 34 and the connecting pipe, and may further comprise a first pressure gauge 30 a, an on/off valve 31 d, a filter 36, etc., as illustrated in FIG. 3. Meanwhile, the outer pressure controlling means 31 may be basically composed of a connecting means, which is selected among an inert gas connecting means 26 a or an outer zone connecting means 28, and the connecting pipe, and may further comprise an on/off valves 31 b, 31 e, 31 f, 31 g, a gas analyzing means 35 and a third pressure gauge 31 a, etc., as illustrated in FIG. 3.

In the present Example, an equalizing line 23 is composed of the two connecting pipes that constitute the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31, respectively. Therefore, the equalizing line 23 behaves, by itself, as a pressure-difference controlling means. Spatially interconnecting the upper part of the inner zone 4 c with the outer zone 5, the equalizing line 23 naturally prevents an apparent pressure difference between these two zones.

The pressure difference between Pi, measured at a lower part of the fluidized bed 4 a where Pi is highest in the bed, and Po, measured at an upper part of the inner zone 4 c, is usually below 1 bar. Thus, if the equalizing line 23 is used as the pressure-difference controlling means, the pressure difference between Pi and Po, i.e., between inside and outside of the reactor tube 2 may be maintained below 1 bar irrespective of the measurement point of Pi.

The object of the present Example may also be accomplished when a reaction gas inlet means 15 is interconnected with the outer zone 5 by selecting a space in connection with a reaction gas inlet means 15, instead of the gas outlet means 17, for constituting the inner pressure controlling means 30.

Meanwhile, the effect of pressure equalization of Pi and Po attributed to the equalizing line 23, which is a pressure-difference controlling means in the present Example, may also be obtained when a pressure equalizing valve 27 c in FIG. 3 is further equipped at the equalizing line 23 enabling spatial partition of the inner zone and the outer zone.

Example 10

Hereunder is provided a description of still another embodiment where the outer zone pressure (Po) is controlled according to the change of the inner zone pressure (Pi), and the difference between the values of the inner zone pressure and the outer zone pressure is thereby maintained within the range of 0 to 1 bar.

In the present Example, an average value of the inner zone pressure, Pi(avg), may be estimated from the two values of pressure measured at two spaces which are in spatial connection with a fluidizing gas inlet means 14 and a gas outlet means 17 independently. Then, Po may be controlled according to the estimated value of Pi(avg), thus maintaining the difference between the values of Pi and Po within 1 bar, preferably 0.5 bar.

In the present Example, a second pressure gauge 30 a′ and a first pressure gauge 30 a are installed in connection with a fluidizing gas inlet means 14 and a gas outlet means 17, respectively. The inner pressure controlling means 30 may be constituted as an integrated circuit of a pressure-difference gauge 32 of FIG. 3 and a controller comprising an arithmetic processor, where the controller generates an estimated value of Pi(avg) based on the real-time measurements of the two pressure gauges 30 a′, 30 a. Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 3, an outer pressure controlling means 31 may be constituted as an integrated circuit of the pressure-difference gauge 32 as well as a second pressure control valve 30 b′ and a third pressure gauge 31 a which are connected to an inert gas connecting means 26 a and an inert gas connecting means 26 b, respectively. Here, the pressure-difference gauge 32 exhibits the difference between Pi(avg) and Po, and generates an electric signal corresponding to the difference, thus operating the second pressure control valve 30 b′. Therefore, being a common element for both the inner pressure controlling means 30 and the outer pressure controlling means 31, the software-based function of the pressure-difference gauge 32 may be coupled into the controller for estimation of Pi(avg).

Because the value of Pi measured by the second pressure gauge 30 a′ fluctuates depending on the fluidization state of the fluidized bed, the controller comprising an arithmetic processor for estimation of Pi(avg) may further comprise a software-based damping means that generates time-averaged values of pressure, Pi*(avg), at an interval of, for example, 10 seconds or 1 minute based on the fluctuating real-time values of Pi. This damping means may allow a smooth operation of the second pressure control valve 30 b′ based on the time-averaged value instead of the fluctuating Pi.

Using the controller comprising an arithmetic processor and the second pressure control valve 30 b′ as a pressure-difference controlling means, it is possible to control the outer zone pressure (Po) according to the change of the time-average of Pi values measured at different positions in connection with the inner zone, and then to maintain the difference of Po from and Pi(avg) or Pi*(avg) within the range of 0 to 1 bar.

The manipulation of the second pressure control valve 30 b′ for controlling the outer zone pressure according to the average value of the inner zone pressure may be adjusted following a gas-component analysis on the off-gas through a gas outlet means 17 or the off-gas treating means 34 and/or on the gas discharged from the outer zone through the outer zone connecting means 28 or an inert gas connecting means 26 b. If a large amount of an inert gas component is detected in the off-gas, it is preferred to lower Po, thus decreasing the migration of impurity into the inner zone 4 from the outer zone 5. On the contrary, if an off-gas 13 component is detected in the gas from the outer zone besides an inert gas 12, it is preferred to raise Po, thus decreasing the migration of impurity into the outer zone 5 from the inner zone 4. Nonetheless, according to the present Example, the condition of |Po−Pi*(avg)|≦1 bar should be satisfied irrespective of conditions for controlling Po. If the impurity component is not detected, it is preferred to manipulate the second pressure control valve 30 b′ so that Po may be substantially the same with Pi*(avg). Therefore, it is possible to minimize or prevent the undesirable migration of impurity by controlling the pressure difference between the inner zone 4 and the outer zone 5, although the sealing means 41 a, 41 b for reactor tube 2 are not maintained perfect during the operation of the fluidized bed reactor.

The object of the present Example may also be accomplished by constituting the outer pressure controlling means 31 in a different way. For example, instead of the third pressure gauge 31 a connected to the inert gas connecting means 26 b, a fifth pressure gauge 31 p or a sixth pressure gauge 31 q, which are connected to an outer zone connecting means 28 a or an inert gas connecting means 26 a, respectively, may be selected as the pressure gauge to be connected to the pressure-difference gauge 32. Further, instead of the second pressure control valve 30 b′ connected to the inert gas connecting means 26 a, a third pressure control valve 31 b connected to the inert gas connecting means 26 b may be selected as the pressure control valve.

Meanwhile, the object of the present Example may also be accomplished by constituting the inner pressure controlling means 30 in a different way. For example, instead of the second pressure gauge 30 a′ connected to the fluidizing gas inlet means 14, a pressure gauge in spatial connection with a silicon product particle outlet means 16 may be selected for measurement of Pi(avg) together with the first pressure gauge 30 a connected to the gas outlet means 17.

Besides the aforementioned Examples, the inner pressure controlling means 30, the outer pressure controlling means 31 and the pressure-difference controlling means may be constituted in a variety of manners for preparation of granular polycrystalline silicon according to the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As set forth above, the method according to the present invention for preparing granular polycrystalline silicon using the fluidized bed reactor have the superiority as follows.

1. Bulk production of granular polycrystalline silicon can be carried out according to the process using the fluidized bed reactor as set forth herein.

2. The pressure difference between both sides of the reactor tube is maintained so low that a high-pressure silicon deposition is possible without deteriorating the physical stability of the reactor tube, thus enabling to fundamentally prevent the damage of the reactor tube due to the pressure difference, and to improve long-term stability of the reactor.

3. The pressure difference between the inner zone and the outer zone may be maintained within a predetermined range at a relatively low cost without continuously providing a large amount of inert gas into the outer zone of the reactor.

4. High reaction temperature required for silicon deposition can be easily maintained by the heating means employed for heating the silicon particle bed.

5. The process as set forth herein can be utilized for economical and energy-efficient production of high-purity polycrystalline silicon with minimized impurity contamination and enhanced productivity.

6. The outer zone of the reactor is maintained under an inert gas atmosphere and the inert gas may be discharged through a separate exit. Thus, although an insulating material and optionally a heater are installed in the outer zone and the outer zone may comprise additional partitioning means in a radial or vertical direction, it is possible to decrease remarkably the possibility that impurity from these components can migrate into the inner zone and deteriorate the quality of polycrystalline silicon product.

7. The long-term stability of the reactor may be improved remarkably because any thermal degradation in terms of chemical and physical properties of those additional components in the outer zone is less probable under the inert gas atmosphere. 

1. A method for preparing polycrystalline silicon using a fluidized bed reactor, comprising: providing a fluidized bed reactor wherein a reactor tube is placed within a reactor shell so as to be encompassed by the reactor shell, whereby dividing an inner space of the reactor shell into an inner zone formed within the reactor tube and an outer zone formed in between the reactor shell and the reactor tube, wherein a silicon particle bed is formed and silicon deposition occurs in the inner zone while a silicon particle bed is not formed and silicon deposition does not occur in the outer zone; maintaining a difference between an outer zone pressure (Po) and an inner zone pressure (Pi) at a condition of 0 bar≦(Pi−Po)≦1 bar wherein an inner pressure controller is spatially connected to the inner zone through at least one means selected from the group consisting of a fluidizing gas inlet means, a reaction gas inlet means, a silicon particle outlet means and an inner zone connecting means, which are spatially connected to the silicon particle bed; and introducing an inert gas into the outer zone, whereby maintaining a substantially inert gas atmosphere in the outer zone.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring and/or controlling the inner zone pressure and measuring and/or controlling the outer zone pressure.
 3. The method of claim 1, which further comprises introducing a fluidizing gas into the silicon particle bed, introducing a silicon atom-containing reaction gas into the silicon particle bed, heating the silicon particle bed, discharging polycrystalline silicon particles prepared within the inner zone to the outside of the fluidized bed reactor, and discharging an off-gas to the outside of the fluidized bed reactor, wherein a pressure difference between maximum pressure value and minimum pressure value in the silicon particle bed maintains from 0.01 bar to 1 bar.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reaction gas is a silicon atom-containing gas selected from the group consisting of monosilane, dichlorosilane, trichlorosilane, silicon tetrachloride and a mixture thereof.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the reaction gas further comprises at least one gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, helium, hydrogen chloride and a mixture thereof.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluidizing gas is a gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, helium, hydrogen chloride, silicon tetrachloride and a mixture thereof.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the inert gas comprises at least one gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, argon and helium.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer zone pressure (Po) or the inner zone pressure (Pi) maintains from 1 bar to 15 bar.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer zone pressure (Po) is controlled in the range of between maximum and minimum pressure values measurable in the inner zone.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner zone pressure (Pi) or the outer zone pressure (Po) is determined based on gas analysis of the gas that is present within or discharged out of the inner zone and/or the outer zone by using a gas analyzing part.
 11. The method of claim 3, further comprising forming a packed bed of packing materials, which are not fluidized by the flow of the fluidizing gas in a lower part of the silicon particle bed with the height of the packed bed being positioned below a position where the reaction gas is introduced into the silicon particle bed.
 12. A method for preparing polycrystalline silicon using a fluidized bed reactor, comprising: providing a fluidized bed reactor including an inner zone and an outer zone partitioned by a reactor shell and a reactor tube, wherein a silicon particle bed is disposed at a lower part of the inner zone; introducing a fluidizing gas and a reaction gas into the silicon particle bed for a silicon deposition with an inner zone pressure (Pi) being maintained to be higher than an outer zone pressure (Po) at a condition of 0 bar≦(Pi−Po)≦1 bar wherein an inner pressure controller is spatially connected to the inner zone through at least one means selected from the group consisting of a fluidizing gas inlet means, a reaction gas inlet means, a silicon particle outlet means and an inner zone connecting means, which are spatially connected to the silicon particle bed; and introducing an inert gas into the outer zone so as to maintain a substantially inert gas atmosphere in the outer zone.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein a pressure at an upper part of the inner zone is lower than an average pressure of the outer zone.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the inner zone pressure (Pi) varies with a fluidization of the silicon particle bed, a pressure difference between a maximum pressure value and a minimum pressure value in the inner zone ranges from 0.01 bar to 1 bar. 